Christmas Pumpkin Treats Recipe

Maybe you like baking or maybe you are looking for a challenge, either way, I have the perfect recipe for you to bake this Christmas.

This October, my housemates and I had a pumpkin carving session, creating one of the scariest pumpkins ever, ‘Student Debt’. We ended up not using all of the pumpkins we bought, so, in order not to waste food, I decided to give my grandmother’s recipe a try. The original recipe was too complicated to make in a student house, so I adapted it and put it to the test. The pastries vanished in a couple of hours and all my friends were left dying for more.

This Christmas, show of your baking skills and try this super sweet recipe!

Ingredients:

1kg Pumpkin

1 Orange

500g Brown Sugar

2 Cinnamon Sticks

640g Shortcrust Pastry Ready Rolled Sheet

1 Egg

Preparation:

Start by peeling the pumpkin’s skin and scooping out its insides.

Cut the pumpkin into smaller pieces. Use a scale to weigh the pumpkin. You will only need 1 kilogram for this recipe.

Wash the pumpkin thoroughly to make sure it is safe to eat and then transfer the pumpkin pieces into a pot.

After this, pour the 500g of brown sugar on top.

Grab your orange and zest it all around, to get all of the peel.

Cut the orange in half and squeeze its juice into the pot.

The last step for the preparation of the pumpkin jam is to add the two cinnamon sticks.

Heat the mixture in the pot for about one to two hours depending on the type of stove you use.

Whilst it cooks, roll out the shortcrust pastry and use a glass to make small even circles.

Roll out the small circles to create an oval shape.

After the pumpkin has all melted down, blend the mixture until you are happy with the consistency.

Proceed to put the mixture in the centre of the oval pastry and fold it over.

Press the ends of the pastry, in order for it to be extra secure.

Crack the egg into a bowl, separating the whites from the yolk. Beat the yolk and with a brush swab the top of the pastry.

Lay the pastries on a tray and cook them in a preheated oven, around 180º.

If you decide to try this recipe let me know how you did on my Instagram @franciscaquadrio or by using the hashtag #christmaspumpkintreats.